IARN — Crops in western Iowa received some timely rain showers beginning late Thursday night.
Mike Witt is a region 6 field agronomist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach covering Audubon, Carroll, Crawford, Greene, Guthrie, Harrison, and Shelby counties. Witt says corn and soybeans have needed moisture as most of June has been pretty dry.
“A lot of the crops needed rain, especially in west central Iowa,” Witt said. “There are certain areas that are in the drought monitor. It’s really easy to tell, especially in the soybeans. There were a lot of soybeans out there struggling, and the corn has already started to curl later on in the day as we are moving forward.”
However, Witt says the crops overall have been having a good growing season and that things are looking well in southwest Iowa.
“In general the corn is looking pretty good out in western Iowa,” Witt said. “Things got planted fast, things have greened up, a lot of nitrogen applications are all done, and most post emergent spray is done as well. Corn is anywhere between that V7 and V8 stage, about knee to waist high. The soybeans are little more variable depending where you are at. We have some in the V2 to V3 stage, and I’ve even seen some in the V4 stage.”
When it comes to pest issues, Witt says his office has been receiving reports of gall midge showing up in soybean fields.
“That’s a pest in southwest Iowa creeping into western Iowa,” he said. “It’s also creeping towards the east. We’re not sure how far to the east it will go this year.”
For more on this story, along with the entire interview with Mike Witt, visit Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network.
